This is the moment a shopkeeper defends his newsagents during a terrifying attempted robbery in Sunderland.

CCTV images show a man walk into Max & Sons in Eden Vale and then brandish a large machete towards the shopkeeper.

After a struggle, the suspect ran out of the shop empty handed and the staff member suffered a minor hand injury during the incident.

Police say it happened just after 6am on Saturday morning, November 8, and Acting Detective Sergeant Nick Lawrance said: “The footage is clearly distressing as it shows the man going in armed with the machete and struggling with the shopkeeper.

Images taken from CCTV of armed robbery in Sunderland

“This sort of incident is extremely unusual in the area and I’d like to reassure people we’re doing everything we can to trace the man in the CCTV.

“This is why we’ve released the images - we want people to let us know who this is. Someone out there will have information about who this is and I’d encourage them to get in touch with us, anonymously if necessary.

“Even if they think the information is insignificant it could be the vital piece we need.”